Exercising rack and bar apparatus



Sept. 21, 1965 Filed Aug. 30, 1962 R. C. HOFFMAN EXERCISING BACK AND BARAPPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORNEY Sept. 21, 1965 R. c. HOFFMAN3,207,511

EXERCISING BACK AND BAR APPARATUS Filed Aug. 30, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet 23e F431 1 I H 28 5 INVENTOR ATTORNEY Sept. 21, 1965 R. c. HOFFMANEXERCISING RACK AND BAR APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Aug. 30, 196225-? Z INVENTOR /QMC/YWW ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,207,511EXERCISING RACK AND BAR APPARATUS Robert C. Holfman, York, Pa., assiguorto York Barbell Co., Inc., York, Pa., a corporation of PennsylvaniaFiled Aug. 30, 1962, Ser. No. 220,377 7 Claims. (Cl. 27263) Thisinvention relates to an exercising apparatus useful in performingbody-building exercises, and more particularly to an apparatus whichpermits maximum development of muscles and bodily strength in a minimumof time and with a minimum of strain on the muscles, tendons andligaments of the user of the apparatus.

For many years weight lifting exercises employing barbells have beenwidely used as a method of body building and of developing muscularstrength. The weight lifting methods, apparatus and training systemsheretofore used have required the practice of many exercises and havebeen time-consuming and fatiguing to the persons doing the exercises.Moreover, the weight lifting techniques previously used have required aconsiderable period of recuperation between training sessions, and muchtime was lost waiting for the muscles to become rested. Thus, when usingthe prior art apparatus and methods it was frequently necessary for theexerciser to take 24 to 36 hours of rest between exercise periods. As aresult, long periods of time were required for a person to advance to adesired strength level as measured by his weight lifting ability.

Furthermore, the prior techniques of weight lifting imposed certainmental inhibitions upon the lifter which prevented him from making amaximum lifting effort. These inhibitions were caused by a fear ofpersonal injury inherent in the sudden maximum muscle contractions thatwere inevitable with weight lifting techniques of the prior art.

Another disadvantage of the prior art techniques of weight lifting andmuscle building is that they required that part of the muscle energy beused in shortening the length of the muscle, and that part of the energybe used in tensioning the muscle, whereas research in this field hasshown that maximum muscle building and muscle cell development occurwhen all of the muscle energy is used in muscle tension and none is usedin movement which shortens the muscle.

Still another disadvantage of the prior muscle building apparatus andmethods is that they did not develop maximum strength in the position ordirection in which the strength was to be used.

A further disadvantage of the weight lifting apparatus and methods ofthe prior art is that they are not properly related to the positions ofmovement used in lifting competitions, but rather provide isolatedexercises having no planned or coordinated relationship to the weightlifting movements used in lifting competitions.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a weight liftingapparatus in which muscular strength can be increased much more rapidlythan with the apparatus of the prior art, and in which the exercises arenot as fatiguing to the user as in the prior art apparatus and methods.

It is another object of the invention to provide an exercising apparatusfor muscle building which does not re quire long periods of rest andrecuperation between training sessions.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an exercisingapparatus for weight lifting which the weight lifter can use withoutfear of personal injury, thereby removing mental inhibitions which tendto limit the maximum weight lifting effort of the user.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an 3,207 ,51 lPatented Sept. 21, 1965 'ice exercising apparatus for muscle developmentwhich permits exertion of force against an immovable object in a numberof selected positions to permit maximum tension of different muscleswithout shortening of the muscles, thereby to promote maximum musculardevelopment.

A further object of the invention is to provide an exercising apparatusfor muscle developemnt which trains the muscles and nervous system togive maximum coordinated effort in the position of needed force andwhich causes the weight lifter to execute all of the exercises in thevarious positions used in competitive weight lifting.

In achievement of these objectives, there is provided in accordance withthis invention an exercise rack including two pairs of spaced uprightsor standards, preferably steel pipe lengths. The two pairs of uprightsare laterally spaced from each other by a distance sufficient to permitthe exerciser to perform his exercises therebetween. The laterallyspaced pairs of uprights are suitably secured to each other by crossbraces at the upper end of the rack. The lower end of the rack issuitably anchored to a floor surface, while the upper end of the rack issuitably secured to an adjacent wall or equivalent fixed object bybracket members extending rearwardly from the rack.

Each pair of uprights includes a forward upright and a rear uprightspaced from the forward upright by a distance of approximately nine totwelve inches. Each of the steel pipe uprights is provided with drilledholes at close vertical intervals throughout the entire height of thefront and rear faces thereof. The forward upright at each side of therack is provided with drilled holes extending at close verticalintervals throughout the entire height of each of the opposite sidefaces thereof. An exercise bar without weights thereon may be extendedthrough and positioned in the holes in the side faces of the oppositeforward uprights, so that the bar serves as an immovable object againstwhich pushing or pulling forces may be exerted by the exerciser.Alternatively, a bar with weights thereon may be positioned in the spacebetween the forward and rear uprights and be movable through a limitedrange of vertical movement as determined by the vertical spacing betweensupporting pins and retaining pins positioned at vertical spacing in theholes through the front and rear faces of the respective uprights. Inaddition, a chinning sub-assembly, including parallel chinning bars, maybe detachably secured by removable pins to opposite sides of the upperportion of the exercise rack. Also, as a further feature, an abdomi nalexercise board may be detachably supported by a cross bar extendingthrough the holes in the lower portion of the side faces of the oppositeforward uprights.

Further objects and advantages of the invention and the details of apreferred embodiment will become apparent from the following descriptiontaken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exercising apparatus or exercisingrack in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of one of the two pairs of standards ofthe exercising apparatus of FIG; 1, showing in cross section a barbellsupported at one end by the support pin of the apparatus;

FIG. 3 is an elevation view, partially cut away, of the upper endportion of the pair of the uprights or standards at one side of theexercising apparatus, and showing one of the parallel chinning barssupported by said pair of uprights;

FIG. 4 is a view in vertical section along the line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the lower portion of the exercisingapparatus, showing an abdominal board supported at one of its ends bythe bar of the apparatus;

FIG. 6 is a view in vertical section along the line 6-6 of FIG. and

FIG. 7 is a plan view of the under surface of the abdominal board ofFIGS. 5 and 6.

Referring now to these drawings, and more particularly to FIG. 1, theexercising apparatus of the invention may be designated as :an exerciserack and includes a first pair of uprights or standards 10 and 12 on oneside of the rack and a second pair of uprights or standards generallyindicated at 14 and 16 on the opposite side of the rack. The fouruprights are preferably stout steel pipe sections of approximately 2 /2inches outside diameter. Each pair of uprights is welded at its upperand lower ends to a steel plate. Thus, uprights 10 and 12 are welded attheir lower ends to steel plate 18 and at their upper ends to steelplate 20, while uprights 14 and 16 are welded at their lower ends tosteel plate 22 and at their upper ends to steel plate 24. The uprights10 and 12 at one side of the rack lie in a common vertical planeperallel to but spaced laterally from the vertical plane of uprights 14and 16 on the opposite side of the rack. The lateral spacing between theplane of uprights 1012 on one side of the rack and the plane of theuprights 14-16 on the opposite side of the rack is sufficient to permitthe exerciser to stand between the two sides of the rack as shown inFIG. 1 with ample clearance to perform the exercises for which the rackis designed.

The two front uprights 10 .and 14 at opposite sides of the rack lie in acommon plane at the forward side of the apparatus, while the two rearuprights 12 and 16 lie in a common plane which is parallel to but spacedrearwardly of the plane of uprights 10 and 14 by a distance ofapproximately five inches. The four uprights 10, 12, 14 and 16 arepreferably eight feet in height.

The exercise rack is anchored to the floor of the room where it isinstalled by means of suitable anchor bolts or the like extendingthrough apertures in the steel plates 18 and 22 at the lower ends of theuprights. The rack assembly is poistioned at an outward spacing from anadjacent wall or other fixed object a distance sufiicient to give theexerciser ample room to perform his exercises, and the upper end of therack is secured to the adjacent wall or the like by opposite bracketmembers 26 and 28 which are secured at their outer ends to the top steelplates 20 and 24. Bracket members 26 and 28 include depending rightangle portions 30 and 32 whichare suitably anchored to the adjacentwall.

Braces 34 and 36 extend in diagonally crossed relation between therearwardly-extending brackets 26 and 28 and maintain the opposite sidesof the rack in rigidly assembled and properly spaced relation.

A plurality of holes 38 of approximately 3-inch diameter are drilled inthe forward and rear surfaces of each of the uprights 10, 12, 14 and 16.Holes 38 are preferably positionedat 2-inch vertically-spaced intervalsalong the entire height of each of the uprights. Since the uprights are8 feet high, forty-eight of the holes 38 are provided in each of thefront and rear surfaces of each of the uprights, each upright having atotal of ninety-six of the holes 38.

' Each of the holes 38 in the front surf-ace of each upright is alignedwith a corresponding hole 38 in the rear surface of the same upright,and these two holes are properly aligned with a corresponding pair ofholes 38 in the other upright on the same side of the rack. Also, thefour corresponding holes 38 in a given horizontal plane of the twouprights on one side of the rack lie in exactly the same horizontalplane as the front and rear holes 38 of each of the uprights on theopposite side of the rack. Steel pins such as those indicated at 40, 41and 43 in FIGS. 1-4 extend in a front-to-rear direction through the fouraligned holes 38 of the forward and rear uprights on each respectiveside of the rack. Each of the pins 40, 41 and 43 is of identicalconstruction, and each includes a head portion 47 to facilitatepositioning or withdrawal of the pin with respect to a set of holes 38.

The forward uprights 10 and 14 are each provided on each of its sidesurfaces with a vertical row of holes 42. The holes 42 of each upright10 and 14 are of approximately 2-inch diameter and are spaced at 3-inchvertical intervals along the entire height of each respective forwardupright to provide a total of thirty-two of the holes 42 on each side ofeach 8-foot upright. The holes 42 on opposite sides of each forwardupright are accurately positioned at corresponding vertical levels topermit the exercise bar 44 to extend through the corresponding holes 42in the opposite sides of each upright 10 and 14, as best seen in FIG. 1.

Parallel chinning bar sub-assemblies generally indicated at 45 may alsobe attached to the opposite sides of the exercise rack adjacent theupper end thereof. Each of the sub-assemblies 45 includes a chinning bar46 having a horizontal support arm 48 and an inclined support arm 50rigidly attached thereto. Support arm50 is inclined at an angle ofsubstantially 45 degrees with respect to the horizontal support arm 48and with respect to the chinning bar 46. Horizontal support arm 48 andinclined support arm 50 at each end of each of the chinning bars 46 areprovided with 'holes which are in mating alignment with a pair ofvertically spaced holes 38 of the front and rear uprights at each sideof the exercise rack. This permits each of the chinning barsub-assemblies 45 to be detachably connected to the uprights 10-12 or1416 by means of the pins 40 which extend through the aligned holes inthe arms 48 :and 50 at the forward and rear sides of the respectivechinning bar sub-assemblies and through the aligned holes 38 of theuprights on the corresponding side of the rack. The parallel chinningbars 46 at opposite sides of the exercise rack permit the performance ofchinning exercises, as well as performance of the exercise known as thefrog kick.

As best seen in FIGS. 5, 6, and 7, the exercise rack is also adapted tobe fitted with the abdominal board generally indicated at 51 which isused for exercises which develop muscles in the abdominal region. Theabdominal board is approximately six feet long and includes on its undersurface at one end thereof bearing plates 52 each having asemi-cylindrical bearing member 54 which engages the surface of thecross-bar 44 to hold the upper end of board 51 securely in position whenthe board is in use. The abdominal board also includes a strap member 55which extends across the outer-surface at the end of the board which issupported by bar 44, the ends of strap member 55 extending beneath andbeing secured to the under surface of the board. Strap member 55 is usedto hold the feet of, the exerciser in place. The opposite end of board51 includes a cross member 56 which rests on the surface of the floor.When used with abdominal board 51, cross bar 44 is positioned at arather low height, as, for example, two feet above the surface of thefloor, which causes the abdominal board to be inclined at an angle ofapproximately 20 degrees with respect to the horizontal. When theabdominal board is mounted on bar 44 as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, theexerciser lies with his feet hooked under strap 55 atthe upper end ofthe board and with his head at the lower end of the boar-d, and raiseshimself from the waist to strengthen muscles in the abdominal region.

When using the exercise rack of the invention for exercises which do notrequire movement of weights or shortening of muscle length, the bar 44is positioned as shown in FIG. 1 so that it extends through the alignedholes 42 in the sides of the respective forward uprights 10 and 14. Whenbar 44 is used in this manner, no weights are mounted on the bar, andthe maximum force of which the exerciser is capable, either a push or apull dependingon the height of the bar and the particular exercisewhichis being performed, is exerted on bar 44 to exercise the muscles.

With bar 44 located in the holes 42, as shown in FIG. 1, no actualmovement of the bar occurs during the pushing or pulling effort sincethe engagement of bar 44 with the holes 42 makes the bar immovable.Thus, all of the muscle energy is used in muscle tension and none of themuscle energy is used in shortening movement of the muscle. Research inthis field has shown that improved muscle building and muscle celldevelopment occur under these conditions.

In a typical days training schedule using the bar 44 without weights,the bar is positioned at various levels on the forward uprights and 14.For example, in addition to the position shown in FIG. 1, the bar may bepositioned at a level above the head of the exerciser, so that theexerciser must extend his arms to full length above his head to reachand exert force against the bar. In another exercise, the bar 44 may bepositioned at approximately chin height. In still another position, bar44 may be at a height where it will rest on the back and shoulders ofthe exerciser when he is in squatting position. In another position,corresponding to still another exercise, the bar 44 may be positionedseveral inches below the knees of the exerciser when he is in standingposition. In all of these various positions of bar 44, the exerciserexerts maximum pushing or pulling force, to provide a single hardmuscular contraction lasting for a period of six to twelve seconds forthe respective exercise. It has been found that a single muscularcontraction provdied by exerting a force against an immovable objecttends to provide maximum muscular development. By adjusting the bar 44to various levels, different muscles or groups of muscles may beproperly conditioned by exerting a single strong pushing or pullingforce of short duration upon the bar 44.

The exercise rack may also be used for exercises in which weights 60 aremounted on opposite ends of the bar 44. When using weights on the bar,the bar is moved vertically in the space between the forward and rearuprights. As best seen in FIG. 2, support pins 41 are positioned in thealigned holes 38 of the forward and rear uprights 10-12 and 1416,respectively, on opposite sides of the exercise rack, and retaining pins43 are positioned at a higher level, preferably two holes above pins 41on each side of the rack. This vertical spacing between support pins 41and retaining pins 43 permits a limited vertical movement of four inchesof bar 44 and the weights 60 mounted thereon.

As best seen in FIG. 2, bar 44 with weights 60 mounted thereon ispositioned between the forward and rear uprights, and when not in userests on the lower supporting pins 41 at opposite sides of the rack. Theexerciser may lift the bar 44 and weights 60 mounted thereon through alimited range of movement, as determined by the height of the upperretaining pins 43 above the lower supporting pins 41. The lowersupporting pins 41 and the upper retaining pins 43 on each side of therack may be adjusted to various vertical positions corresponding toexercises which are to be performed, with a vertical spacing alwaysbeing maintained between pins 41 and 43 to permit limited verticalmovement of bar 44 and weights 60.

The exercise rack hereinbefore described has certain definite advantagesas compared to exercising apparatus heretofore used, whether the rack isbeing used with the bar 44 without weights and held in an immovableposition in holes 38 as shown in FIG. 1, or whether the rack is beingused with the bar 44 having weights 60 mounted thereon and movablethrough a limited range of movement between the supporting pins 41 andretaining pins 43.

The exercise rack permits the exercises to be performed without fatigueassociated with apparatus heretofore used, and permits the exerciser toexercise daily without long periods of recuperation between sessions.Furthermore, the exercise rack by permitting a definite positioning ofthe bar 44 either in an immovable position or in a position having alimited range of movement permits the exercises to be performed withgradual muscle contractions, rather than sudden muscle contractions andthereby removes mental inhibitions previously associated with weightlifting which frequently prevented the lifter from exerting a maximumlifting effort. The exercise rack, particularly when used with the bar44 in the immovable position in holes 38, permits a maximum amount ofmuscle energy to be applied to ten-sioning the muscle, rather thanrequiring part of the muscle energy to be diverted into shortening ofthe muscle, thereby providing improved muscle building and muscle celldevelopment. Furthermore, the exercise rack permits the force of theexerciser to be exerted for any given exercise in the direction orposition of the needed force for the given exercise. Also, the rackpermits the weight lifting to be performed in the various positions usedin competitive weight lifting and thus is an ideal training device forthose who wish to engage in weight lifting competitions.

The parallel chinning bars and the abdominal board also cooperate withthe exercise rack to permit diversified exercises which further improvethe bodily strength and musclar development of the user.

While there has been shown and described a particular embodiment of theinvention, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that variouschanges and modifications may be made therein without departing from theinvention, and therefore it is aimed to cover all such changes andmodifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the inventionas defined by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

*1. An exercise apparatus comprising a first and a second pair ofuprights, each of said pairs including a forward and a rear uprightspaced from each other and lying in a vertical plane parallel to theplane of the forward and rear uprights of the opposite pair, said pairsof uprights being laterally spaced from each other to permit theperformance of exercises therebetween, ifirst connection means rigidlysecuring the lower end of the uprights of each pair together, said firstconnection means of each pair of uprights including means adapting saidfirst connection means for attachment to a floor surface, secondconnection means rigidly securing the upper ends of each pair ofuprights to the upper ends of the other pair of uprights, means formingpart of said apparatus for rigidly securing the upper ends of saiduprights to a surface adjacent said upper ends, a first set of holespositioned at frequent vertically-spaced intervals in a correspondingone upright of each pair, said holes of said one upright of each pairhaving horizontal axes extending in horizontal planes corresponding tothe planes of the axes of the holes of said one upright of the otherpair, said sets of holes of both of said one uprights [lying in .acommon vertical plane, whereby an exercise bar may be supported adjacentits opposite ends in selected vertical positions in the holes of saidone upright of both of said pairs of uprights and be immovable in avertical plane when so supported, a second set of holes positioned atfrequent vertically-spaced intervals in said one upright of each pairand having axes extending perpendicularly to the axes of said first setof holes and extending in the front-rear direction of said apparatus,the second set of holes of said one upright of each pair having axeslying in horizontal planes corresponding to the planes of the axes ofthe second set of holes of the other said upright, a third set of holesformed in the other upright of each pair and horizontally aligned withthe second set of holes of said one upright of each pair, and at leastone pin member positioned in corresponding holes of the second and thirdsets in the forward and rear uprights on each of the opposite sides ofsaid apparatus, whereby an exercise bar lying in the space between saidforward and rear uprights may have its movement in a vertical planelimited by said pin memhers.

2. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 including a second pin member oneach of the opposite sides of said apparatus, cooperating with saidfirst named pin member to provide a lower supporting pin and an upperretaining in, each of said pins being supported adjacent its oppositeends thereof in vertically spaced relation to the other pin incorresponding holes of the second set in the pair of forward and rearuprights on each of the opposite sides of said apparatus, whereby saidexercise bar may be disposed in the space between said forward and rearuprights and have its movement in a downward direction limited by saidsupporting pins on opposite sides of the apparatus and have its movementin an upward direction limited by said retaining pins on opposite sidesof the apparatus.

3. An exercise apparatus comprising a first and a second pair ofuprights, each of said pairs including a forward and a rear uprightspaced from each other and lying in a vertical plane parallel to theplane of the forward and rear uprights of the opposite pair, said pairsof uprights being laterally spaced from each other to permit theperformance of exercises therebet-ween, first connection means rigidlysecuring the lower ends of the uprights of each pair together, saidfirst connection means of each pair of uprights includings meansadapting said first connection means for attachment to a floor surface,second connection means rigidly securing the upper ends of each pair ofuprights to the upper ends of the other pair of uprights, bracket meansattached to the upper ends of said uprights for securing said apparatusin a rigidly fixed spaced relation to a wall adjacent the apparatus, afirst set of holes in each of said forward-uprights at frequentvertically-spaced intervals and having horizontal axes extending inhorizontal planes corresponding to the planes of the axes of the holesof the other forward upright, the .axes of said holes of both of saidforward uprights extending in a common vertical plane, whereby anexercise bar may be supported adjacentits opposite ends at selectedvertical positions in the holes of both of said forward uprights and beimmovable in a vertical plane when so supported, a second setof holespositioned at frequent vertically-spaced intervals in each of saiduprights and having axes extending perpendicularly to the axes of saidfirst set of holes, the second set of holes of each of said uprightshaving axes lying in horizontal planes corresponding to the planes ofthe axes of the second set of holes of the other said uprights, a thirdset 'of holes formed in the other upright of each pair and horizontallyaligned with the second set of holes of said one upright of each pair,and at least one pin member positioned in corresponding holes of thesecond and third sets in the forward and rear uprights on each of theopposite sides of said apparatus, whereby an exercise bar lying in thespace between said forward and rear uprights may have its movement in avertical plane limited by said pin members.

4. An exercise apparatus comprising a firstand a second pair of tubularmet-a1 uprights, each of said pairs including a forward and a rearupright spaced from each other and lying in a vertical plane parallel tothe plane of the forward and rear uprights of the opposite pair, saidpairs of uprights being laterally spaced from each other to permit theperformance of exercises therebetween, a

first plate rigidly securing the lower ends of the uprights of each pairtogether, said first plate including means adapting said first plate forattachment to a floor surface, a second plate rigidly securing the upperends of the uprights of each pair together, brace means rigidly securingthe upper ends of each pair of uprights to the upper ends of the otherpair of uprights, bracket means attached to the upper ends of saiduprights for securing said apparatus in a rigidly fixed spaced relationto a wall adjacent ,the apparatus, a first set of holes in diametricallyopposite sides of each of sa d forward tubular metal uprights atfrequent vertically-spaced intervals, said holes of each forward uprighthaving horizontal axes extending in horizontal plan-es corresponding tothe planes of the axes of the holes of the other forward upright, saidholes of both of said forward uprights lying in a common vertical plane,whereby .an exercise bar maybe supported adjacent its opposite ends atselected vertical positions in the holes of both of said forwarduprights and be immovable in a vertical plane when so supported, asecond set of holes positioned at frequent vertically-spaced intervalsin each of said uprights and having axes extending perpendicularly tothe axes of said first set of holes and extending in the front-reardirection of said apparatus, the second set of holes of each of saiduprights having axes lying in horizontal planes corresponding to theplanes of the axes of the second set of holes of the other said upright,a third set of holes formed in the other upright of each pair andhorizontally aligned with the second set of holes of said one :uprightof each pair, and at least one pin member positioned in correspondingholes of the second and third sets in the forward and rear uprights oneach of the opposite sides of said apparatus, whereby an exercise barlying in the space between said forward and rear uprights may have itsmovement in a vertical plane limited by said pin members.

5. An exercise apparatus comprising a first and a second pair ofuprights, each of said pairs including a forward and a rear uprightspaced from each other and lying in a vertical ,plane parallel to theplane of the forward and rear uprights of the opposite pair, said pairsof uprights being laterally spaced from each other to permit theperformance of exercises therebetween, first connection means rigidlysecuring the lower ends of the uprights of each pair together, saidfirst connection means of each pair of uprights including means adaptingsaid first connection means for attachment to a fioor surface, secondconnection means rigidly securing the upper ends of each pair ofuprights to the upper ends of the other pair of uprights, means formingpart of said apparatus for rigidly securing the upper ends of saiduprights to a surface adjacent said upper ends, a set of holespositioned at frequent vertically-spaced intervals in the other saidupright and having axes extending in the front-rear direction of saidapparatus, said holes of each of said uprights having axes lying inhorizontal planes corresponding to the planes of the axes of the holesof each of the other uprights, and at least one pin member. positionedin corresponding holes in apair of forward and rear uprights on each ofthe opposite sides'of said apparatus, whereby an exercise bar lying inthe space between said forward and rear uprights may have its movementin a vertical plane limited by said pin members.

6. An apparatus as defined in claim 5 including a second pin member oneach of the opposite sides of said apparatus, cooperating with saidfirst named pin member to provide a lower supporting pin and an upperretaining pin, each of said pins being supported adjacent its oppositeends in vertically spaced relation to the other pin in correspondingholes in a pair of forward and rear uprights on each of the oppositesides of said apparatus, whereby said exercise bar lying in the spacebetween said forward and rear uprights and between said pins may haveits movement in a downward direction limited by said lower supportingpins on opposite sides of the apparatus and may have its movement in anupward direction limited by said upper retaining pins on opposite sidesof the apparatus.

7. In combination with the exercise apparatus defined in claim 5, achinning bar sub-assembly attached to each of the opposite pairs ofuprights adjacent the upper ends of said uprights, each chinning barsub-assembly including a chinning bar extending in the front-reardirection of the apparatus and parallel to and laterally spaced inwardlyof the inside surfaces of its corresponding for- Ward and rear uprights,a separate horizontal arm connected to each of the respective oppositeends of each chinning bar, a separate inclined arm connected to each ofthe respective opposite ends of each chinning bar, and separate pinsconnecting said horizontal and inclined arms of each chinning bar to thecorresponding forward and rear uprights, said .pins being supported insaid holes of said forward and rear uprights.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS Rosenberger272-61 Albach 272-62 Ahdallah 272-63 X Margulies 272-62 Adler 272-79RICHARD C. PI'NKHAM. Primary Examiner.

1. AN EXERCISE APPARATUS COMPRISING A FIRST AND A SECOND PAIR OFUPRIGHTS, EACH OF SAID PAIRS INCLUDING A FORWARD AND A REAR UPRIGHTSPACED FROM EACH OTHER AND LYING IN A VERTICAL PLANE PARALLEL TO THEPLANE OF THE FORWARD AND REAR UPRIGHTS OF THE OPPOSITE PAIR, SAID PAIRSOF UPRIGHTS BEING LATERALLY SPACED FROM EACH OTHER TO PERMIT THEPERFORMANCE OF EXERCISES THEREBETWEEN, FIRST CONNECTION MEANS RIGIDLYSECURING THE LOWER END OF THE UPRIGHTS OF EACH PAIR TOGETHER, SAID FIRSTCONNECTION MEANS OF EACH PAIR OF UPRIGHTS INCLUDING MEANS ADAPTING SAIDFIRST CONNECTION MEANS FOR ATTACHMENT TO A FLOOR SURFACE, SECONDCONNECTION MEANS RIGIDLY SECURING THE UPPER ENDS OF EACH PAIR OFUPRIGHTS TO THE UPPER ENDS OF THE OTHER PAIR OF UPRIGHTS, MEANS FORMINGPART OF SAID APPARATUS FOR RIGIDLY SECURING THE UPPER ENDS OF SAIDUPRIGHTS TO A SURFACE ADJACENT SAID UPPER ENDS, A FIRST SET OF HOLESPOSITIONED AT FRQUENT VERTICALLY-SPACED INTERVALS IN A CORRESPONDING ONEUPRIGHT OF EACH PAIR, SAID HOLES OF SAID ONE UPRIGHT OF EACH PAIR HAVINGHORIZONTAL AXES EXTENDING IN HORIZONTAL PLANES CORRESPONDING TO THEPLANES OF THE AXES OF THE HOLES OF SAID ONE UPRIGHT OF THE OTHER PAIR,SAID SETS OF HOLES OF BOTH OF SAID ONE UPRIGHTS LYING IN A COMMONVERTICAL PLANE, WHEREBY AN EXERCISE BAR MAY BE SUPPORTED ADJACENT ITSOPPOSITE ENDS IN SELECTED VERTICAL POSITIONS IN THE HOLES OF SAID ONEUPRIGHT OF BOTH OF SAID PAIRS OF UPRIGHTS AND BE IMMOVABLE IN A VERTICALPLANE WHEN SO SUPPORTED, A SECOND SET OF HOLES POSITIONED AT FREQUENTVERTICALL-SPACED INTERVALS IN SAID ONE UPRIGHT OF EACH PAIR AND HAVINGAXES EXTENDING PERPENDICULARLY TO THE AXES OF SAID FIRST SET OF HOLESAND EXTENDING IN THE FRONT-REAR DIRECTION OF SAID APPARATUS, THE SECONDSET OF HOLES OF SAID ONE UPRIGHT OF EACH PAIR HAVING AXES LYING INHORIZONTAL PLANES CORRESPONDING TO THE PLANES OF THE AXES OF THE SECONDSET OF HOLES OF THE OTHER SAID UPRIGHT, A THIRD SET OF HOLES FORMED INTHE OTHER UPRIGHT OF EACH PAIR AND HOROZINTALLY ALIGNED WITH THE SECONDSET OF HOLES OF SAID ONE UPRIGHT OF EACH PAIR, AND AT LEAST ONE PINMEMBER POSITIONED IN CORRESPONDING HOLES OF THE SECOND AND THIRD SETS INTHE FORWARD AND REAR UPRIGHTS ON EACH OF THE OPPOSITE SIDES OF SAIDAPPARATUS, WHEREBY AN EXERCISE BAR LYING IN THE SPACE BETWEEN SAIDFORWARD AND REAR UPRIGHTS MAY HAVE ITS MOVEMENT IN A VERTICAL PLANELIMITED BY SAID PIN MEMBERS.